EMMAUS 2017 March 2017

Transcription

1 Upper Room Emmaus of the Greater Fredericksburg Area EMMAUS 2017 March 2017 DA I LY INT PR e m a AY E R E R N E il C T dhb Debbi HAIN l e i ss B fred liss at e a yah uspray t or oo.c e om rs@ DA I LY WA P R AY R E ema il Ch R I O R R at ch ris Cam ris@ p ewg. bell org Upcoming Walks FE-105 (M) Mar 23-26, 2017 Tom Wells FE-106 (W) Apr 20-23, 2017 Kathleen Holladay FE-107 (M) Sept 21-24, 2017 Gregg Snyder FE-108 (W) Oct 26-29, 2017 Jennifer Taylor Volunteers Needed Please contact John Mann at slowjet@outlook.com if you are interested in helping the Emmaus community through any of the following various volunteer positions listed. Andrew Chapel UMC 1732 Brooke Road Stafford VA Gatherings Take exit 140 off I-95 and go east on Courthouse Road 630. Continue on Courthouse Road for 8 miles (cross over US Route 1 and pass Brooke Point HS). Make a right onto Andrew Chapel Rd. After crossing under the train tracks, make a left and an immediate right into the church parking lot. The Board meets at 2:00 pm Bring snacks to share during Fellowship time at 3:30 pm Gatherings start at 4:00 pm Mar 11th: Andrew Chapel UMC Apr 8th: Fredericksburg UMC Fourth Day Follow-Ups: Saturday, April 8th at 9:00 am at Andrew Chapel UMC Monday, May 8th at 6:30 pm at Andrew Chapel UMC If your church can host a gathering, please the CLD John Mann at slowjet@outlook.com

2 FROM THE COMMUNITY LAY DIRECTOR! PAGE 2 Mediocre to Passionate They said to each other, Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us? Luke 24:32 (NRSV) I love our Gatherings! Although it s been almost 19 years since my Walk, Gatherings always take me back to that time. Fellowship, singing, Communion, food, Fourth-Day Witness, prayer; I love all of it. The Fourth-Day Witness, in particular, almost always speaks to me. At the February Gathering, we were blessed to hear the Fourth-Day Witness from Laney Walton (FE-104) of St. Matthias UMC. She spoke without notes and gave a powerful witness. She was honest and courageous about her faith journey and her emotions were raw. One comment that Laney made really resonated with me. She described being on her knees pleading to God saying please take me from mediocre to passionate. Mediocre to passionate. I ve reflected on that comment a lot over the last few days. The more I thought about the phrase, mediocre to passionate, the more I realized that it is the very essence of the Emmaus experience. The Upper Room says that we sponsor Pilgrims to bring spiritual revitalization to Christians who, in turn, will bring new life and vision to the work of the church in the congregation. We take Pilgrims from wherever they are on their spiritual journey and move them into an even closer relationship with Jesus Christ. For me, that truly began from mediocre and I pray that I am becoming more and more passionate in my relationship with Christ with each passing day. Laney prayed for God to take her from mediocre to passionate and with the help of Emmaus, I believe she is well on her way. Moreover, I pray that Emmaus is, and will continue to be, a vehicle that moves all of us in our Emmaus Community toward passionate, with our hearts burning within us. For me, my passion ebbs and flows, but over the last 19 years I ve discovered, and rediscovered, that our Emmaus Gatherings keep me moving forward. I love our Gatherings! DeColores, John Mann Fredericksburg UMC,FE-029, Table of Luke Camp Happyland Happyland Drive Richardsville, VA From Central Park in Fredericksburg: Drive 7.5 miles west on Route 3. Turn right (North) on Route 610, Elys Ford Road. Drive 9 miles north on Route 610. Just prior to the green Richardsville sign, turn right (East) on Route 619, Richards Ferry Road. Drive 1.3 miles to Happyland Drive. You will see a large Camp Happyland sign on the right side of the road. Turn right into the Camp and proceed to the parking area. Total distance is approximately 18 miles.

3 FROM THE COMMUNITY SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR! PAGE 3 Many of you know Nancy McDaniel, retired pastor at Rhoadesville Baptist Church and former community spiritual director of our Fredericksburg Emmaus community. Several years ago, Nancy introduced me to the song Emmaus by Steve Green. The song is a beautiful compliment to the scripture passage in Luke 24 that we all know so well. Both the scripture and the song tell the story of meeting people where they are: Somewhere between where you are and Emmaus A stranger wants to come and walk with you. Somewhere along the way your heart will be burning, drawn into the holy flame of truth. Some ask Him in to stay as night falls on their own Emmaus Road. Some push Him away and never see the mystery unfold. But those who take to heart the word that has been spoken as he breaks the bread of life their eyes will open. I suspect that we may recognize in ourselves the different reactions described in the song both during our particular Emmaus walk as well as during our journey throughout our lives. Perhaps you have been the one who pushes Him way the one who can t quite bring yourself to take the risk to believe the risk to recognize the One who has appeared to walk with you. Because it is a risk. Recognizing who Jesus is and that He wants to walk along with you will change your life perhaps radically. It might feel safer to push Him away because once we are drawn into that holy flame of truth WOW! anything can happen! Or perhaps you have been the one who looks closely at the One who has been walking with you and you saw something and BAM! Your eyes were opened wide and you know that this is not a stranger at all but the One who has loved you from the beginning of time the One who is both God and man, both savior and friend. May we each take to heart the word that has been spoken. May our eyes be opened anew to His love and grace each day. And may we share that holy flame of truth with others as we journey. Rosemary Blankenship Purpose of the Upper Room: The purpose of Emmaus is to renew the church as the body of the risen Christ in the world through the renewal of Christians as faithful and committed Disciples of Christ. Purpose of the Fredericksburg Community (per bylaws): The purpose of Fredericksburg Emmaus shall be to inspire, challenge, and equip church members for Christian action, in their homes, churches, places of work, and the world community through the Emmaus experience. The Collector, 1234 Main Street, Any Town, State ZIP

4 BOARD NEWS! PAGE 4 Walk to Emmaus Covenant for 2017 Each year Emmaus communities around the world are required to enter into a covenantal relationship with The Upper Room. The Upper Room owns the Emmaus program and all manuals, Talks, logo s, and other Emmaus specific materials. By entering into the Covenant (a 15- page document), among many other things, Fredericksburg Emmaus agrees to remain faithful to the Emmaus model, protect the intellectual property (manuals, Talks, schedule, logos, Worship Book), and within our Community to promote openness to diversity and theological balance and foster a spirit of Christian acceptance and unity. In exchange, the Emmaus Office, among other things, makes the Emmaus materials and the Walk to Emmaus trademarks available for our use and grants permission for Fredericksburg Emmaus to conduct our Walk to Emmaus weekends for During January and February all members of the Fredericksburg Emmaus Board of Directors signed the Covenant. At the February Gathering, the Community Spiritual Director, Rosemary Blankenship, and the Community Lay Director, John Mann, added the last two signatures to the Covenant in front of the Gathering as a visible sign of this Covenant and our pledge to be faithful to the spirit and intent of the Emmaus movement. Fourth Day Follow-Up Additional Fourth-Day Follow-Up sessions will likely be scheduled in May or June in the Fredericksburg area and we are looking at scheduling one in the Northern Neck area in April or May. Sing and Make Music from Your Heart to the Lord Ephesians 5:19 (NIV) We ve given ourselves silly names like the Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Chickens or the Holy Hawaiians, but we re not an exclusive bunch. ALL Fredericksburg Emmaus musicians are welcoming to anyone who wishes to work within a group and share their love of our Lord through music. Music is a very important part of our Emmaus experience. God created us to be instruments with the ability to praise His name through song. Paul tells us in Ephesians to, Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. I think I speak for all our Emmaus musicians when I say there is no greater feeling of being filled with the Holy Spirit than helping to lead worship through song at a Gathering or on a Walk. So, is it time to flip that old bushel basket and place your light on a stand? Step right up and join us if you sing or play the guitar, piano, drums, tambourine, stump fiddle or Flu Flooper. Don t be shy. None of us are professionals. Strap on some rainbow tie-dye and a smile and join us during rehearsal minutes before the next Gathering. We have room for those of you with no musical talent, too. Maybe you re a whiz at creating beautiful PowerPoints, flipping slides or setting up electronic equipment. Contact me and I ll put you to work! Beth McBride, FE-89 bethmcb24@verizon.net

5 PRAYER REQUESTS! PAGE 5 Please pray for my daughter Janis, to come to know Jesus as her Lord ad savior. Prayers for Monica Warne and Jason Sully in their job search. Eleanor Brandy (mother of Patricia Sjöberg) St. Matthias UMC for hosting our Gathering!! Family relationships (new marriage, etc.) Leadership & Vision & Obedience Lorraine Snyder hope the scheduled surgery will help her feel better and be her old self. Bill Spicer (Beth s Dad) Health Al Doughty's family & friends Al passed away 2/2/17 Gramé Shannon praise will not be on maintenance therapy for blood cancer. Coastal Carolina Chrysalis Boys Flight Nephew Bownian FBC Deacons Leadership Pray for Crossroads Mission Center as we do mission work with the King Willard County Community. Paula s mom Al s family Ed & Jayne Jody Letting go loves prayer. Pray for her. New relationship. Christian pray for a softer heart. Susan s Daughter Gathering Host Church signups! Paula s mom health Veteran working at cell phone store being redeployed has no church family to pray for him Our children and grand kids Praise for my health FredCamp Upcoming cataract surgery FE-105 and FE-106 Gloria surgery Ann-Marie Francis (Oyster Roast Beneficiary) Our Country Mary health, John, Wilfred, Maranatha! A friend whose son took his own life. Please pray for my son and his counselor he s in prison. Due to come home 3/10/17 and she is standing in the way. 33rd Benefit Oyster Roast Ed and Jayne Manger

6 AGAPE! PAGE Signed Agape sent to the Dan River Emmaus Community in Danville, VA. Men s Walk #78, March 16-19, 2017 Women s Walk #79, March 30April 2,

7 WALK INFO! PAGE 7 Walk Placemats If you would like to make walk placemats, please Mary Lee Hensel for the details and to sign you up for a meal s worth of placemats. Placemats can be done by individuals or by reunion groups. For each meal, we need 50 placemats. You can make them on legal (8.5 x 14) or ledger (11 x 17) paper or anywhere in between. Agape Bags Will you help make a pilgrim s walk special? You can buy brightly colored rainbow striped fabric, cording, and bright shoelaces to donate or you can make them yourself, (12 wide and 15 tall, please). Please contact Karen Campbell at or campbells_6@yahoo.com Walk Schedule Date Time Activity at Camp Happyland Thur 6:30-7:00 pm Pilgrim check-in followed by Sponsor s Hour Sat. 7:30 pm Candlelight Community will gather for praise, Communion & fellowship. Please bring flowers for the team to use Sunday! Sun. 4:00 pm Closing Service Agape Instructions General Agape should be for all Pilgrims and all Team Members and it should be anonymous. Please Pre-Sort Agape into a labeled bag for Pilgrims and Team Members for the three Agape events: Friday afternoon Agape Bag, Friday night Bed Agape and Saturday night Bed Agape. If any agape has a cord or chain, (lanyards/crosses), please individually wrap them in small baggies otherwise we may have to untangle each one. Pilgrim Sponsors need to get 8-10 Personal Agape letters and separate them from all other Agape. There will be an Agape Box available at the Gatherings The Collector, 1234 Main Street, Any Town, State ZIP

8 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS! PAGE 8 Board of Directors: Class of 2017 Terry Cook Beth McBride Dan See Betty Jo Sims (SD) Gregg Snyder Class of 2018 Rosemary Blankenship (CSD) Tammi Ellis Matt Green John Mann (CLD) Chris Silkensen (Treasurer) Class of 2019 Chris Campbell (ACLD) Butch Farley Joyce Keene (Secretary) Vonda LiCalzi Randy McCollum (SD) Prayer Requests: To send a prayer request to our daily internet prayer chain, Debbie Bliss at dhbliss@cox.net or fredemmausprayers@yahoo.com To become a Daily Prayer Warrior, Chris Campbell at chris@ewg.org Community Volunteers: Communications Support Coordinator: Mary Lee Hensel Website & Database Administrator: Chris Campbell Newsletter: Brooke Ferguson Daily Prayer Chain Coordinator: Debbie Bliss Fourth Day Support Coordinator: OPEN Fourth Day Advisory Committee: Mary Lee Hensel & OPEN Fourth Day Follow-Up Coordinator: Gregg Snyder Reunion Group Coordinator: OPEN Team Selection Committee: Ed Hayner Team Registrars: Chris & Karen Campbell Pilgrim Registrar: Debbie Bliss Gathering Support Coordinator: Mary Lee Hensel Hospitality Coordinator: OPEN Music/Equipment Coordinator: Mitch Mitchell Weekend Support Coordinator: Debbie Bliss Community Servant Coordinator: Doc Holladay Community Baker: Sandie Makely Supplies/Transportation Coordinators: Chris & Karen Campbell Prayer Vigil Coordinator: OPEN Placemat Coordinator: Mary Lee Hensel Snack Agape Coordinator: OPEN Agape Bag Coordinator: Karen Campbell Name Badge Coordinators: Gary Adkins & Dianna Wells Fourth Day Packets: OPEN

9 REUNION GROUPS & WALK FEES! PAGE 9 Are you interested in joining or starting a new reunion group? Chris Wells at cdwells50@gmail.com SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY THURSDAY Bethel UMC Men s Group 7:30 am Bethel UMC Woodbridge, Va POC: Brian Lewis bb3253@aol.com St. Matthias Reunion Group 1st Sunday of each month 12:15-1:30 pm St. Matthias Social Hall POC: Tammi Ellis Ladies in Waiting Meets every other Monday in Falmouth POC: Vonda LiCalzi Rainbow Group (Women) First Monday of month 10:00 am Lake of the Woods Location varies POC: Barbara Miller Lord s Lions & Lambs Group 6:00 pm First Christian Church POC: Mike Remington first.christian.church@ verizon.net Great Is Thy Faithfulness 7:30 pm Prince of Peace UMC Manassas, Va POC: Lloyd Biller His Joyful Croakers 9:00 am Hillcrest UMC POC: June Riel His Seekers (Women) 7:30 pm Home of Jane Carwell POC: Sandy Crossley POC: Jane Carwell tjcarwell@yahoo.com Application Fee $25 Due when you submit the completed application. If this fee is not included with the application the application will not be counted as valid until fee is received. Sponsorship Fee $200 Due, (not mailed, but in the Treasurer s hands), no later than one week before the Walk, but preferably earlier. It is not acceptable to bring the Sponsorship Fee on the night the Walk starts. A check must be written to Camp Happyland the morning of the Walk and is deposited the next day. Therefore, for Emmaus to be good stewards and to be in line with strong business practices, you must send your fees in a minimum of one week before the walk. Team Fee - $200 Due, (not mailed, but in Treasurer s hands), no later than one week before the Walk, but preferably earlier. It is preferable that this is given to the Board Rep, for your Walk, during teaming. Mail to: - All payments, applications, fees, correspondence, etc... should be mailed to P.O. Box 42094, Fredericksburg, VA 22404